Anime Jam Session

Adieu Galaxy Express 999 gets 45th anniversary screenings, Netflix and SEGA team up for live-action films and a new Sonic The Hedgehog animation, and RANMA 1/2 gets themed tableware! Also, 15,000 drawings were used to make The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You dance, Level 5 CEO addresses the use of AI in a recent presentation, and Lionsgate partners with Toei Animation for project distribution! Meanwhile in Japan... Megadeth guitarist chimes in as voice of reason on shrine dancing, and mayors challenge each other to a ninja battle!

An update on Toei Animation confirming no license for the French theme park, sleeping like a Pokémon in a limited-run Poké Ball hotel, and the latest Puella Magi Madoka Magica film passed 1 billion yen in opening weekend! Also: InuYasha signed sketch auctioned to help kids orphaned by AIDS, GKIDS responds after complaints about subtitle timing during movie screenings, and Meta glasses and celebrity do not equal CONSENT! Meanwhile in Japan, a Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimonos, a change in laws may ban more than half of Airbnb-style rentals in a Tokyo ward, and Kobe schools abolish school-run extracurriculars and shift to community-based programs!

Idol game app firm collapses as data shows bankruptcies up 7% on year, Universal Studios Japan crosses two popular anime with two popular movie franchises for new collaborative merch, and Pokémon social media account hacked! Also, Korean Pop Culture Expo ( KPEX ) launched in NYC for 2027, Japanese anisong singer Asaka touches fans with a heartfelt message, and the French president announced a manga theme park, but... There's a lack of license approval... Meanwhile in Japan, Final penguin Suica cards shipped for use, and foreign resident visa renewal is about to jump over 967 percent for some, and that's not even the highest amount!

A Kingdom Hearts anime was announced, the Japanese government is ending the Cool Japan Fund program, and a new Magical Girl Raising Project anime date was announced! Also, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt anime collaborates with TENGA, Vampire Hunter D film gets US theatrical and home video release, and Manga Mirai service shuts down, but has plans to transfer digital ownership of your library! Meanwhile in Japan, a ninja theme park closes due to a shady real estate deal, and a conveyor belt sushi sightseeing tour bus is on its way!

We're talking about Another Anime Convention (AAC) 2026! It's the con's 20th anniversary! Join DJ Ranma S and Ari Rockefeller as they tell you all about the con from Thursday to Sunday! All of the adventures in Manchester, New Hampshire! And in Meanwhile in Japan... A shrine announces a cosplay ban, and a 12-year-old found safe after going missing decided to visit sites for the anime she liked?!

Japanese officials warn the US Government over memes, an anime fan arrested for ordering and canceling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch, and a man speaks up after arrest for threats to the governor over age restrictions on an anime streaming site! Also, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Japan follows Pokémon 's lead as it looks to introduce ID checks for admission to card game events in Japan, a woman sues The Pokémon Company over former executive's hidden recording devices in a bathroom, and Puella Magi Madoka Magica gets an IMAX release on top of standard screen release for latest movie! Meanwhile in Japan, police ask residents not to get blackout drunk during earthquake relief efforts, the largest online Japanese flea market reminds users that used school swimsuits are a no-go, and toilets for tourists are flashy landmarks, but not everyone is happy?!

World Cosplay Summit to escape summer heat in 2027, Discotek Media to release a bunch of anime on Blu-ray, and a new bundle through Amazon Prime to include Crunchyroll and STARZ ! Also, a former Japanese Idol leaves her group and launches a career on an adult platform, Digimon drops a project announcement, and Tokyo Pokémon Center is set to reopen after ensuring staff safety! Meanwhile in Japan, Reservations open for a maid hotel, tourists are allowed to display selfies on giant Shibuya Station screens, and a popsicle brand adds multilingual packaging to connect with tourists!

We have a bit of an update regarding Maxey Whitehead and Anime Matsuri... Also, Akira Toriyama was inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame; we have a new Galaxy Express 999 anime film announced, and TRANSFORMERS the Movie screens in the US and UK with a new post-credits chapter! Also, more delisted series from Crunchyroll ... All former Funimation titles, Japan to fight card scalpers with facial recognition scans, and the Spear of Longinus to be installed at Eva train art station! Meanwhile in Japan, a man was arrested for seven years of noise complaints, and Yakuza members arrested for building a road?!

Gundam Wing merch drop! Crunchyroll Store becomes exclusive to certain tiers, and Jump Magazine issues an apology to fans over card scalpers buying out the latest issue! Also, Seven Seas Entertainment to release OG Ultraman manga, Megami Tensei creator releasing promised English translation of novels, and a Japanese credit card company has insurance that covers geek event cancellation! Meanwhile in Japan, a teen refuses to be a victim and personally escorts a pervert to the police, and Original Cup Noodles unveils first-ever cold water instant ramen!

Gundam Wing mixed with Code Geass for crossover manga, GungHo executive arrested for alleged embezzlement, Anime International Company (AIC) wins 5-year legal battle, and a Kickstarter launched for Tenchi Muyo sequel pilot! And we bring back the Open Forum Topic, "Should conventions charge extra for badges for photographers that do paid shoots?" Meanwhile in Japan, summer overnight sightseeing train returns, a police inspector punished for playing crane games while on duty, a man arrested for luring foreign tourists into shady establishments, and Japan to regulate raw chicken dishes because people are stupid...

A card shop suspends Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments over smelly players, Japanese fans are dropping Yani Neko for being too gross, and the New Magic Knight Rayearth premiere date is announced! Also, HBO Max gets streaming rights for the live-action Junji lto series, Sonic The Hedgehog short animated anniversary film revealed at Anime Expo® , and Naruto gets a non-verbal live show! Meanwhile in Japan, New Maid School is accepting applicants for the first term, and Japan triples departure tax affecting both tourists and locals...

Power Rangers officially reveals lost anime version aimed at older fans, Gundam studio and Madoka studio to team up for new anime collaboration, and the Sanrio Character poll results are in, and Hello Kitty is once more missing from the top 3... Also, Crunchyroll and Newtype team up once more for Anime Expo® summer edition, Netflix in development for live-action Persona series, and the Korean government to turn seniors' lives into webtoons for heritage project! Meanwhile in Japan, conveyor belt sushi prankster gets a 500,000 yen fine for being an idiot, over a billion yen in gold smuggled found in sex dolls, and a theme park adds Alice in Borderland-inspired immersive Death Game complete with wearable bomb collars?!

Hello Kitty teams up with Spam for a new summer collection, Studio Ghibli opens its first US store in LA, and a special video is released for The Way of the Househusband! Also, Star Detective Precure! asks fans to figure out the secret identity of Cure Eclair before the air date, Disney's Twisted-Wonderland anime is nominated for TV Critics Awards, and a Japanese agency warns Kadokawa about its alleged violations of the Freelance Act! Meanwhile in Japan, a man is arrested for luxury houseplant fraud, and pachinko machines get new life in assisted care facilities!

Hello Kitty teams up with Honda to bring motorcycle knowledge to children, Super Mario reaches 1 billion dollars in worldwide box office, and a new Fairy Tail manga miniseries is announced! Also, Dark Horse Comics voluntarily recognizes the employees' union, Discotek Media announces Digimon and Kamen Rider license, and Devil May Cry gets 3rd and final season! Meanwhile in Japan, there's a restaurant inside your restaurant, so you can have a restaurant in your restaurant, and a high school closes its cafeteria to open a 7-Eleven ?!

This week, the 25th anniversary of Naruto is on the horizon, with a new anime slated, a new Pokémon experience announced for the 30th anniversary, and Minky Momo returns to theaters in November! Also, Yuri on ICE celebrates its 10th anniversary, the Adolescence of Utena film will play in North American theaters in June, and a seiyuu sues TikTok over the Generative AI use of his voice! Meanwhile in Japan, Lawson launches mini supermarket chain L Minimart, Osaka to host Hentai event, and no, it's not that you pervert...

This week, Detective Conan and Precure team up for some crossover action, the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards winners, and McDonald's Japan teaming up with Mega Man! Also, Netflix to stream 20 NHK drama titles, Crunchyroll Japan profit drops 63 percent, and The Pokémon Company to require government ID for purchases? Meanwhile in Japan, a temple burns to the ground, sacred fire safely unharmed, and KFC Japan lists three "American" burgers on its menu?

Gundam announces some 50th Anniversary fun, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo exhibition planned, and Kenshi Yonezu receives third certified gold ranking! Also, Scooby-Doo anime has some familiar voices, and Love Live! Superstar teams up with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) , and Cloverway founder launches new global production studio! Meanwhile in Japan, shochu serenaded for flavor variety, and two arrested for breaking into a zoo enclosure?!

A Yuji Itadori cosplayer assaults a creeper who was banned from a con! Plus, Sailor Moon gets a little political, and Crunchyroll hosts an anime industry summit ahead of New York Comic Con . Also, it's time for another anime-filled Heritage Auctions , TOKYOPOP launches a children's publishing company, and a manga is getting an Off-Broadway musical this fall! Meanwhile in Japan, a shogun cultural experience that teases all five senses, a woman broke into a home just to slap a resident in the face, and very interesting stress balls?!

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens at #1 in Japan, celebrate Pokémon 's anniversary with coffee, and Looney Tunes is getting a chibi anime makeover! Also, the Art of Manga exhibition heads to NY, a piracy site shuts down with help from Korean webtoon companies and Spanish Authorities, and Attack on Titan gets an orchestral concert world tour! Meanwhile in Japan, charges were filed against a serial bird feeder, SEGA 's 65th anniversary pop-up to have deep cut game merch available, and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment makes a huge change to gachas...

Sephiroth wants you to buy beer, Love Live brings a new 3DCG musical for a limited November run, and Toei Animation opens a game division and launches with 3 titles! Also, My Hero Academia in concert sets US tour dates, a permanent Square Enix cafe to open in LA, and Crunchyroll is not even in the top 3 for anime streaming worldwide! Meanwhile in Japan, a Buddhist priest was arrested for using a found health card, and Tokyo's City Hall dress code change leaves everyone a little short...